English & Media
Teaching Staff
Mr Ellams - Head of Curriculum
Mr McKenna
Mrs Simpson
Miss Adams
Mrs Newland
Mrs Potgieter
Mrs Coverdale
Miss Bird
Language is fundamental to thinking and learning. Our aim as English teachers is to give children control over their use of language for writing, reading and speaking and listening. We are a community of teachers inspired with a passion for our subject and energised to constantly seek out creative approaches to teaching. Through our approach to the teaching of literature and language, we seek to open young minds to the endless possibilities in life so that they might develop into lifelong learners able to interrogate and maximise whatever circumstances, be they spiritual, economic, personal or material that meet them as they live out their lives. This approach allows us to maintain our duty to ensure that each of our students achieves the very highest academic grades they are capable of, as well as equipping them with literacy skills for success across the curriculum.
Throughout each Key Stage, each unit of work is designed to enhance and embed our student's ability to communicate effectively through speech and writing whilst gaining the skills needed to read and understand a myriad of text types. We aim to achieve this with the use of a variety of texts from modern media to Shakespeare, and our choice of text also gives an insight into a range of cultures and moral and philosophical ideas. We constantly revamp and update our units of work so that our methods are informed by current pedagogical thinking and our choice of text reflect the interests of our students and changing times in which we live. Students are assessed regularly and in a variety of ways, receiving regular feedback to encourage continuous improvement.
Year 7
Keen to manage the transition from Year 6 into Year 7, we aim to deliver lessons in a similar format to those experienced at Primary School. Building on strong links with our feeder schools, we have a designated link teacher who liaises with Year 6 teachers.
Autumn Term
Our Units of Work are designed to regularly assess Speaking and Listening, Reading and Writing skills. This term begins with a modern novel and casts a wide net in terms of social and cultural issues explored. Whilst working to assess new student's strengths, it is a wonderful introduction to secondary school and allows students to form bonds to be carried through secondary school. As the term progresses students study short stories from around the world as well as a selection of poetry.
Spring Term
After the Christmas vacation, non-fiction and media writing forms the basis of our work encouraging students to become more aware of their audience and the purpose of their writing.
Summer Term
The opening Unit of Work for the summer focuses on Shakespeare and sees the students focusing on how drama works. Students then move onto writing poetry, having studied a number of key techniques, and a visit from a professional poet cements this unit.
Year 8
Summer Term
In the summer term Year Eight begin to explore texts from our literary canon with focus on the Gothic Genre. Frankenstein and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde are an example of texts choices facing an altogether more mature student body. Students will place texts in context and explore the social and historical influences on the creators of such classic literature. =
Autumn Term
Focussing on a modern novel, Year Eight begins with a focus on the writing process entire, seeing students working on their own pieces of creative writing. We focus closely on the skills needed to draft a first piece into a crafted final piece shaped to engage its audience. The second half term builds on reading skills as students focus on short stories and how a writer builds an effect quickly.
Spring Term
The New Year begins with a focus on non'fiction writing, specifically travel writing. Speaking and Listening forms a large part of the term's work and culminates in the creation of performance poetry.
Year 9
Summer Term
The new AQA GCSE Specification allows us to begin GCSE studies early, thus maximizing success at the next Key Stage. Students will sit a GCSE Controlled Assessment which will count towards their English GCSE.
Autumn Term
Shakespeare and the creation of dramatic effect starts the Autumn Term as students analyze Shakespeare's stage craft. Employing reading skills and the use of quotation to support ideas, students produce a crafted essay as we begin to look forward to Key Stage 4.
Spring Term
Students study the media in the Spring Term of Year Nine, building on their written and Speaking and Listening skills. By now students should be fully prepared to embrace the possibilities and opportunities waiting for them in the next Key Stage.
Year 10 and Year Eleven
Students work to complete their English and English Literature Controlled Tests as well as focusing on examination skills. The New GCSE Specification allows students the flexibility to sit Examinations and Controlled Tests as different points in the year.
Students also have the option of taking GCSE Media and combining this qualification with English, English Language and/or English Literature.
All students in both Key Stages take part in active group work as well as individual studies and, at every opportunity, are encouraged to become reflective learners capable of interrogating their own strengths and identifying their own areas to develop. Students are active in every aspect of their learning from the beginning of their time studying English at Alec Hunter.
The limits of my language are the limits of my world.
Wittgenstein
